400,000 rare birds at Soysambu

By Beatrice Obwocha

Thousands of rare migratory birds have invaded Lake Elementaita from Europe.

The more than 400,000 white storks, regarded as "birds of good luck" have pitched camp at Soysambu Conservancy, attracting attention and creating a rare scene.

At Soysambu, they are concentrated on the plains near the lakeshore. The conservancy’s CEO Catherine Cooms said the birds started arriving towards the end of January in small numbers, but have since grown in numbers.

"They have been here before but in very small numbers that we did not take notice but the current number is unprecedented," she said, adding the birds usually migrate to North and South Africa during winter in Europe and rarely stop in East Africa.